11-23-103. Purchase of unstamped carcass prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to purchase from any other person the carcass or any part thereof of any cattle unless the carcass or part purchased is stamped as provided by law. The district court of the county wherein the sale or purchase takes place has jurisdiction of the offense.
Any person violating any provision of W.S. 11-23-102 and 11-23-103 shall be fined not less than seven hundred seventy-five dollars ($775.00) or more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), or imprisoned for not more than one (1) year, or both.
11-23-106. "Cold storage locker plant" defined; stamp on
tag; certificate in lieu of stamp; filing and inspection of certificate; penalties.
(a) "Cold storage locker plant" means any place, premises or establishment where facilities for the cold storage and preservation of human food in separate and individual compartments are offered to the public upon a rental or other basis for private profit.
(b) No operator or employee of any cold storage locker plant in Wyoming shall accept from any person for processing, quick freeze or cold storage any beef, mutton, lamb or pork unless it is properly stamped or tagged showing it to have been lawfully slaughtered, or in the absence of a proper stamp or tag the person offering the meat may deposit at the time with the operator or his employee a signed certificate stating:
(i) The owner of the meat;
(ii) The kind of meat;
(iii) The weight of the meat; and
(iv) The name and address of the person from whom acquired or if slaughtered by the person offering same, the date and place of slaughter.
(c) The certificate shall be kept on file by the operator for one (1) year from its date and be made available for inspection upon request of any law enforcement officer or authorized representative of the board.
(d) Any person violating this section or making any false statement in the certificate shall be punished as provided in W.S. 11-1-103.
11-23-107. Killing of horses for meat; unmutilated hide or certificate of inspection to be produced; penalties.
(a) Any person who kills any horse for the purpose of using, selling or offering for sale the meat or carcass for tankage, or for the purpose of feeding the same to domestic stock or to fur bearing animals, must produce on demand of any inspector or peace officer either the unmutilated hide of the animal killed or a certificate of inspection of the hide, issued by a livestock inspector.
(b) Any person violating this section shall be fined not less than seven hundred seventy-five dollars ($775.00) or more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), or imprisoned for not more than one (1) year, or both.
11-23-108. Mutilation of hide from horse; penalties; allegations in prosecutions.
(a) Any person who willfully or maliciously mutilates, destroys or conceals any hide from any horse, mule, jack, jennet, bovine animal, goat, hog or sheep with the intent to remove evidence of ownership of the hide or the animal from which the hide was removed, shall be fined not less than seven hundred seventy-five dollars ($775.00) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), or imprisoned not more than one (1) year, or both.
(b) In any prosecution for the violation of this section it is not necessary for the state to allege in the complaint or information the ownership of the hide or the animal from which the hide was removed, but it is sufficient to allege that the owner of the hide or the animal from which the hide was removed is unknown and that the hide or animal is not the property of the defendant.
11-23-202. Hide buyer; bill of sale required; contents; copy to seller.
A hide buyer shall require every person from whom he purchases hides or pelts to deliver to him a bill of sale for the hides and pelts, executed in duplicate. One (1) copy shall be retained by the seller and the other copy shall be kept by the hide buyer and exhibited upon demand of any inspector, sheriff or deputy sheriff. The bill of sale shall describe by brand or mark the hides and pelts sold and the date of sale.
11-23-203. Hide buyer; record of purchases to be kept; contents; inspection by sheriff.
Every hide buyer in this state shall keep a true record of all hides and pelts purchased by him, showing the name of the seller of the hides or pelts, the date of purchase and all brands and other identification marks on the hides and pelts for not less than two (2) years from the date of purchase. The record shall be open for inspection by the sheriff or his deputy in his county and any livestock inspector.
11-23-204. Hide buyer; inspection for interstate commerce; certificate; fee.
It is unlawful for any hide buyer within this state to ship or haul any hides or pelts out of Wyoming unless the hides or pelts have been inspected by a livestock inspector and a certificate of inspection given therefor. The certificate shall state the date of inspection, the number of hides and pelts and the brands and other identification marks thereon. The hide buyer shall pay to the inspector the fee prescribed by law for each certificate of inspection issued to him.
11-23-206. Stock killed by transportation company.
When any livestock is killed by a transportation company within this state, the company shall cause the hides from all animals killed to be inspected by an inspector, except where the owner or his agent or employee has seen and identified the animals.
With the consent of the owner, unless removal is contrary to state, county or local sanitary regulations or in the opinion of the state veterinarian might result in spreading contagious or infectious disease or threaten the health of human beings, animals or poultry, carcasses of animals may be transported to any rendering plant legally operating without prior inspection for brands and ownership. The operator of a rendering plant within this state receiving the carcasses is a hide buyer and shall comply with W.S. 11-23-201 through 11-23-207.
11-23-302. Transportation to another state prohibited without inspection; proof of ownership required.
Without the consent of the owner, or agent, it is unlawful to transport or cause to be transported carcasses of horses, mules, cattle or sheep from Wyoming to any other state without prior inspection for brands and marks and the issuance of a certificate attesting the inspection by an inspector, who shall require proof of ownership by brand record, bill of sale, or both.
After receiving satisfactory proof of ownership of carcasses of animals to be transported from the state, the inspector shall sign and issue a hide inspection certificate on a form approved by the board, listing the class and number of carcasses inspected, the brands or marks on each, the name of the shipper, name and address of the consignee, place and date of inspection, and make and license number of the truck. If transportation is by other means than truck, that shall be shown. Across the face of the certificate he shall write the words "Dead Animals". The hide inspection certificate shall be filled out in triplicate, the original delivered to the shipper or his agent and shall clear the carcasses for transportation to the destination shown. One (1) copy shall be mailed by the inspector to the board, and one (1) copy filed in the office of the brand inspection agency.
For making an inspection of carcasses the inspector shall collect the inspection fee prescribed by law for each horse, mule, cattle or sheep carcass. All fees collected shall be transmitted to the board.
Violation of any provision of W.S. 11-23-301 through 11-23-304 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Animal" means any bovine animal, horse, mule, ass or sheep;
(ii) "Estray" means any animal found running at large upon public or private lands, fenced or unfenced, in Wyoming whose owner is unknown in the territory where found or the owner of which cannot with reasonable diligence be found, or that is branded with two (2) or more brands the ownership of which is disputed, neither party holding a bill of sale. An estray includes any animal for which there is no sufficient proof of ownership found upon inspection;
(iii) "Range" means all unfenced lands or fenced allotments in Wyoming of a grazing nature. Range includes all highways outside of private enclosures and used by the public whether formally dedicated to the public or not;
(iv) "Disposal" means to sell, send to slaughter or destroy the animal;
(v) "Livestock" means as defined in W.S. 11-20-101(a)(iv);
(vi) "This act" means W.S. 11-24-101 through 11-24-115.
(a) No person shall take up and retain possession of an estray except in the county where he resides and is a freeholder, nor unless the animal is found on lands owned, leased, or controlled by him or his duly authorized agents. When any person takes up an estray he shall immediately notify an inspector who shall inspect or cause to be inspected the estray for brands and other evidence of ownership and make a diligent effort to learn or determine ownership of the animal. The inspector may cause any estray to be held for not more than ten (10) days after the inspection to enable him to complete his investigation of ownership. If the estray is claimed by an owner, the bill for feed and care incurred by the inspector must be paid by the claimant. If the rightful owner cannot be found, or when found, refuses or fails to pay the charges for feed and care of the estray, the inspector shall order the estray be disposed of. Incurred charges for feed and care by the inspector and reasonable shipping and disposal expense shall be paid from the proceeds of the disposal. The net proceeds, if any, received from the disposal of the estray after deduction of authorized expenses, shall be forwarded to the estray fund of the board or its agency. The board or agency shall hold the proceeds in a special fund known as estray fund until paid to the rightful owner of the estray or otherwise disposed of according to law.
(b) If the proceeds of the disposal of any estray are insufficient to pay all legitimate expenses, the deficiency shall be paid by the board or its agency.
(c) The board may enter into agreements with licensed meat processing plants to process meat from livestock disposed of by slaughter. The processed meat shall be sold to:
(i) Wyoming state institutions or to nonprofit organizations for no more than the board's cost for disposal, processing and delivery; or
(ii) For profit entities at market cost for the processed meat.
Any person who takes up or retains possession of any estray without the owner's knowledge or consent, or who in any manner restrains from liberty for the purpose of using or making use of any estray without the knowledge and consent of the owner shall be punished as provided in W.S. 11-1-103.
If any horse or ass not gelded, two (2) years old or upwards, is found running at large, it is lawful for any person to take up the horse or ass and give notice to the owner or keeper if known. If the owner or keeper does not appear within six (6) days thereafter and pay expenses incurred for the feed and care of the animal to the person possessing the animal, the person shall advertise the horse or ass and the same proceedings shall be had as provided in the case of estray animals, or the person possessing the animal may after the expiration of thirty (30) days from the time of advertising, geld or have the horse or ass gelded, at the risk and expense of the owner, except when the horse or ass is in the owner's herd, or in care of the owner's herder. The owner of the horse or ass shall be liable for any damages caused by the animal to property or other livestock.
11-24-105. Unclaimed horses; permit for gathering; disposal.
(a) Any person desiring to gather unclaimed horses from the ranges within Wyoming shall obtain a permit from the livestock board, except as provided in subsection (e) of this section. The permit applicant shall submit with the permit application written permission to access the range whereon the unclaimed horses are to be gathered from the person who has ownership or control of the surface rights of that range. The form of the permit shall be prescribed by the board.
(b) If after an inspection under subsection (c) or (e) of this section, the rightful owner cannot be found, or when found, refuses or fails to pay the charges for feed and care of the estray, the unclaimed horses shall be disposed of by the board under the laws pertaining to estrays.
(c) The permit and the unclaimed horses shall be presented to an inspector within the county in which they were gathered without unnecessary delay for determination of ownership.
(d) The permittee shall be responsible for all expenses associated with gathering, feed and care of the unclaimed horses until an inspection has occurred.
(e) A permit is not required for any person desiring to gather unclaimed horses located on private land on which the person has ownership or control of the surface rights. A person who has gathered unclaimed horses on private land on which he has ownership or control of the surface rights shall present the unclaimed horses to an inspector within the county in which they were gathered without unnecessary delay for determination of ownership and shall be responsible for all expenses associated with the gather and feed and care of the unclaimed horses until an inspection has occurred.
(f) Any horse claimed by the United States bureau of land management as belonging to a wild horse management unit is excluded from this section.
If any estray dies while in the possession of the person taking it up, he is not liable for the loss unless its death was the result of mistreatment or willful neglect.
11-24-108. Stock at large or picketed on public highways;
penalties for violations; impoundment and disposition; fees; proceeds from disposition thereof; removal of dead or injured animals.
(a) No owner or person having custody or charge of livestock shall permit the livestock to run at large in any fenced public highways in Wyoming as defined in W.S. 31-1-101. Livestock shall not be picketed on a public highway right-of-way from one (1) hour before sundown to one (1) hour after sunrise. If livestock are picketed on a public highway and escape, the owner or person having custody or charge of the livestock is deemed to have permitted the livestock to run at large in violation of this section. No livestock shall be picketed on an interstate or national defense highway as defined in W.S. 31-18-801(a)(xvi).
(b) Any person or corporation violating this section shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) and in addition shall pay all damage done by the livestock. The provisions of this section do not apply to livestock drifting into lanes or fenced roads in going to or returning from their accustomed ranges.
(c) Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, livestock brand inspector, or officer or trooper of the Wyoming highway patrol, after notification to the owner of livestock described in subsection (a) of this section, if known, shall within four (4) hours remove the livestock from the public highway, impound the same in the nearest convenient place where feed and water are available and immediately notify the owner, if known, of the action. If ownership is not known, the impounding officer shall report his action to an inspector. The inspector shall make a diligent effort to ascertain ownership of the impounded livestock, and for this purpose may hold the livestock not more than ten (10) days. If unable to determine ownership, the inspector shall dispose of the impounded livestock. Reasonable transportation and disposal expenses shall be paid from the proceeds of the disposal, if any.
(d) A removal fee of not to exceed twenty dollars ($20.00) per head shall be allowed for the expense incurred in removing livestock from any public highway and an impounding fee for expenses incurred for the feed and care of the animal shall be allowed the person responsible for feed and care of the livestock removed. The inspector is responsible for collection and payment to the rightful claimants of removal and impounding fees when impounded livestock is surrendered to the owner. Upon disposal, the total amount of removal and impounding fees shall be made known to the selling agency at the market or slaughter plant by the inspector and shall constitute a first claim on the net proceeds of the livestock after shipping and disposal expenses have been paid, and shall be forwarded by the selling agency to the claimant.
(e) Should the proceeds of the disposition of any impounded animal be insufficient to pay all legitimate shipping and disposal expenses and the removal and impounding fees approved by the inspector, the deficiency shall be paid by the board or its agency.
(f) The net proceeds, if any, from the disposition of the impounded livestock after deduction of removal, impounding, trucking and disposal expenses, shall be forwarded to the estray account of the board. The board shall hold the proceeds until paid to the rightful owner of the livestock or otherwise disposed of according to law.
(g) A peace officer may remove, destroy or otherwise dispose of an animal injured on a state highway after a reasonable attempt to locate the owner of a salvageable animal or a game warden in the case of a wild animal. If reasonably possible, the peace officer shall contact the brand inspector before removing, destroying or disposing of livestock. The carcass of an animal killed on a state highway shall be disposed of by highway maintenance crews. If the owner desires, he may claim the carcass from the maintenance crew. The crews shall report to the inspector brands, marks, tags or other identification. The inspector shall endeavor to establish ownership of the animal and notify the owner in writing or notify the local game warden as may be appropriate. Notwithstanding W.S. 24-1-112 and as part of their duties, any peace officer, inspector or other person acting under this section may, but is not obligated to, attempt to repair any fencing through which an animal has gained improper access to the area in which the animal is found.
11-24-109. Record to be kept of estrays found in shipments in transit of cattle or horses.
All inspectors shall keep a record of all estrays found in any shipment of cattle or horses in transit from this state, and shall take a receipt for the estrays from the shipper, or in default of a receipt, shall take the estray from the shipment, giving the shipper a receipt for the estrays on behalf of the livestock board.
11-24-110. Monthly report of inspector; board to keep public record.
The inspector shall make a report every thirty (30) days of all estrays to the livestock board, giving a description of the estrays, stating any brands or other marks by which the estrays may be identified. The board shall keep a record of all estrays reported, which shall at all times be open to the public for inspection.
11-24-111. Disposition of proceeds; remission to board.
All persons shipping estrays shall immediately remit to the livestock board the proceeds received for each and every estray disposed of, a receipt for which was given to an inspector. If any inspector sells an estray from this state, he shall immediately remit the proceeds to the livestock board.
11-24-112. Disposition of proceeds; payment to owner on proof of ownership; unclaimed proceeds generally.
If the lawful owner of any estray disposed of is found within one (1) year after the end of the calendar year in which disposal of the estray occurred, the net amount received from the disposal shall be paid to the owner upon his proving ownership to the satisfaction of the board or agency. If at the end of one (1) year after the end of the calendar year in which disposal of the estray occurred, the proceeds from the disposal of any estray remains unclaimed, the proceeds shall be disposed of as provided by law.
It is unlawful for any person to drive or ship, or cause to be driven or shipped, or to consign or cause to be consigned, without authority from the owner, any estray from any place within this state, except through or to a point or place where an inspector or inspectors are located by the livestock board.
11-24-114. Publication of list of unclaimed estrays.
(a) The executive officer of the livestock board shall annually, during the last week of December, send two (2) lists of unclaimed estrays for which he has received payments, to the county clerk of each county, who shall post one (1) copy in a conspicuous place in the courthouse and place one (1) copy on file in his office. The executive officer shall also cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county from which any estray included in the list was shipped, a notice to the public that the list of estrays is available for examination.
(b) In addition to the notice under subsection (a) of this section, not less than once each month the livestock board shall ensure that if a new estray is taken up notice is posted at the courthouse in the county in which the estray was taken and at each livestock market. The notice under this subsection shall include the location recovered from and the name of the inspector.
11-24-115. Disposition of unclaimed proceeds to state treasurer to credit of inspection account.
On the first Monday in January of each year, all estray monies remaining unclaimed for more than one (1) year after the publication of the notices of posting of lists of unclaimed estrays, shall be paid to the treasurer of the state, and be placed to the credit of the inspection account.
The Wyoming gaming commission is created to be composed of nine (9) persons who have resided in the state for four (4) years and are qualified electors of Wyoming.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Breeder award" means monies collected pursuant to W.S. 11-25-201(j) and distributed by the commission to promote the improved breeding and development of the horse industry in Wyoming. Breeder awards may include purse enhancement of Wyoming bred races;
(ii) "Commission" means the Wyoming gaming commission;
(iii) "Drug" means any substance foreign to a horse's body as prescribed by the commission;
(iv) "Event" means a pari-mutuel event;
(v) "Pari-mutuel event" means the events which are authorized by the commission for the conduct of horse racing (to include quarter horse, thoroughbred or other approved races), harness racing, cutter racing, chariot racing, chuckwagon racing, professional roping and rodeo events and simulcasting of dog racing and the events described in this paragraph as prescribed by the commission. Notwithstanding W.S. 6-7-101(a)(iv) and 11-25-203, the commission may authorize and promulgate rules providing for pari-mutuel wagering on events that have previously occurred, utilizing an electronic system or device that affords an opportunity for the exercise of skill or judgment where the outcome is not completely controlled by chance alone;
(vi) "Pari-mutuel wagering" means wagering on the outcome of pari-mutuel events in which those who wager purchase tickets of various denominations on entrants in the events and all wagers for each event are pooled and held by the permittee for distribution, and when the outcome of the event has been decided, the permittee distributes the total wagers comprising the pool, less an amount not greater than twenty-five and nine-tenths percent (25.90%) for live racing and in the event of simulcasting an amount not to exceed the percentage allowed at the host track or thirty-five percent (35%), whichever is less and less the amount for breakage to holders of tickets on the winning entries;
(vii) "Simulcasting" means the sale of pari-mutuel pools electronically transmitted live or historic on interstate or intrastate pari-mutuel events as prescribed by the commission;
(A) Repealed by Laws 2026, ch. 72, § 3.
(B) Repealed by Laws 2026, ch. 72, § 3.
(C) Repealed by Laws 2026, ch. 72, § 3.
(D) Repealed by Laws 2026, ch. 72, § 3.
(viii) "This act" means W.S. 11-25-101 through 11-25-306;
(ix) "Multiple wagering" means wagers which consist of a single betting interest on two (2) entries;
(x) "Exotic wagering" means wagers which consist of a single betting interest on three (3) or more entries;
(xi) "Advance deposit pari-mutuel wager" means a wager in which a person who has opened an account in advance with a licensee can place wagers from this account in person, by telephone or other electronic means;
(xii) "Horsemen's association" means the association that represents the majority of the owners and trainers licensed by the commission to race horses at an event;
(xiii) "Out-of-state simulcast facility" means a track or other facility, located within a jurisdiction other than Wyoming, at which pari-mutuel wagers are placed, accepted or distributed, either in person or electronically, on simulcast races pursuant to proper authorization under the laws of that jurisdiction;
(xiv) "Source market fee" means a license fee, assessed by the commission pursuant to W.S. 11-25-201(m), payable by out-of-state simulcast facilities that conduct pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast races and that accept wagers from Wyoming residents by telephone or other electronic means at those facilities;
(xv) "Net proceeds" means all revenue less the payment to the player;
(xvi) "Establishment" means a single physical place of business that operates as a truck stop, smoke shop or that is licensed or permitted to sell alcoholic liquor or malt beverages for consumption on the licensed or permitted premises under W.S. 12-2-203(g), 12-4-201, 12-4-301, 12-4-401, 12-4-407, 12-4-413, 12-4-414 or 12-4-415;
(xvii) "Operator" means a person who possesses and operates an establishment where skill based amusement games may be played for profit;
(xviii) "Skill" means a player's knowledge, dexterity or any other ability or expertise relevant to game play;
(xix) "Skill based amusement game" means a game played in exchange for consideration of cash, credit or other thing of value on a fixed, commercial electrical gaming device in which the bona fide skill of the player, determined by an individual's level of strategy and skill, rather than any inherent element of chance, is the primary factor in determining the outcome and for which the player may be awarded a prize or other thing of value for a successful outcome. "Skill based amusement game" shall not include any game played for prizes of nominal value as provided by rule of the commission;
(xx) "Vendor" means a person who owns and distributes a skill based amusement game to an operator for profit;
(xxi) "Truck stop" means a business premises that is:
(A) Equipped with diesel islands used for fueling commercial motor vehicles and that sells on average one hundred twenty-five thousand (125,000) gallons of diesel or biodiesel fuel each month based on the previous twelve (12) months of sales; and
(B) Located on a parcel of land of not less than two (2) acres that is either owned or leased by the business and which includes a convenience store with parking spaces dedicated to commercial motor vehicle use.
(xxii) "Smoke shop" means a retailer as defined in W.S. 14-3-301(a)(iii) that derives fifty percent (50%) or more of its gross annual revenue from nicotine products as defined by W.S. 14-3-301(a)(vi);
(xxiii) "Local approving authority" means the local authority with responsibility to approve, deny or revoke a site-specific application or renewal for a simulcasting permit issued by the commission;
(xxiv) "Local authority" means the governing body of a city, town or county in Wyoming.
11-25-103. Gaming commission; appointment, terms of office
and political affiliation of members; vacancies; appointment districts. The governor with the consent of the senate shall appoint the nine (9) members of the commission in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103. Seven (7) of the nine (9) members shall be appointed from each appointment district under W.S. 9-1-218. One (1) of the remaining members shall be, at the time of appointment and during the term of appointment, an active county or municipal law enforcement officer certified under title 9, chapter 1, article 7 of the Wyoming statutes. One (1) of the remaining members shall be an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho or Eastern Shoshone Indian tribe with not less than five (5) years of regulatory gaming experience. Members shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years and until their successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor as provided in W.S. 28-12-101. A member of the commission may succeed himself for one (1) full four (4) year term. The governor may remove any member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. Additionally, one (1) senator appointed by the president of the senate, one (1) representative appointed by the speaker of the house and one (1) gubernatorial representative shall serve as liaisons to the commission. Legislative liaisons shall be paid salary, per diem and mileage as provided in W.S. 28-5-101 when attending meetings of the commission.
meetings; quorum; records; licenses generally; effect of financial interest in events.
(a) The commission shall annually elect from its membership a president and vice-president, and may employ a director who has a working knowledge of pari-mutuel betting, horse racing and other forms of gaming regulated by the commission or an executive secretary, or both. The director may be retained on a yearly basis or for the racing season only as determined by the commission. Salary for the director or executive secretary shall be determined by the commission with the consent of the personnel division. The commission may also employ other personnel required to carry out this act.
(b) The commission shall hold an annual fall meeting in Wyoming and shall hold special meetings at such times and places within Wyoming as the majority of the members determine. A majority of the commission constitutes a quorum and a majority vote of a quorum may act for the commission. The secretary of the commission shall keep a record of the proceedings of the commission which is open at all times for public inspection. Legislative liaisons shall be considered members of the governing body of the commission for purposes of attending executive sessions held pursuant to W.S. 16-4-405(a) only.
(c) Any member of the commission who has a personal or private interest in any matter proposed or pending before the commission shall publicly disclose this fact to the commission and shall not vote on the matter.
(d) Any member of the commission who owns or has any interest, or whose spouse or member of his immediate family has any interest, in any activity regulated by the commission or in an animal participating in a pari-mutuel event shall disclose that interest and shall not participate in any commission decision involving a protest regarding that activity or occurring at that pari-mutuel event.
(e) The commission may authorize by license or permit and supervise all the conduct of all events provided for and regulated by this act. The commission may make reasonable rules for the control, supervision and direction of applicants, permittees and licensees. The rules shall include procedures for resolving scheduling conflicts and settling disputes between permittees, for the supervising, disciplining, suspending, fining and barring from pari-mutuel events of all persons required to be licensed or permitted by this act, and for the holding, conducting and operating of all pari-mutuel events pursuant to this act. The rules shall include requirements for internal controls for all aspects of pari-mutuel wagering, including procedures for system integrity, system security, operations and accounting. The commission may require that license applicants be fingerprinted for identification purposes as a condition of licensing. The commission shall announce the place, time and duration of pari-mutuel events for which license or permit fees shall be required and establish reasonable fees for all licenses and permits provided for by this act. The fees shall be established to ensure that the costs of administering this act are recovered through the total revenues received under this act. The commission shall establish security access safeguards for licensees to use for advance deposit pari-mutuel wagering. The commission shall prohibit advance deposit pari-mutuel advertising that it determines to be deceptive to the public.
(f) Each permittee, licensee, any current and prospective employee, volunteer and contract employee of a permittee or licensee and each person who has access to restricted areas or animals housed on permitted event grounds for horse racing or for pari-mutuel activities shall be licensed by the commission and shall comply with all rules and regulations and all orders issued by the commission. No person shall hold any event with pari-mutuel wagering without obtaining a permit. The commission may require that all permittees, licensees, current and prospective employees, volunteers and contract employees of a permittee or licensee and each person who has access to restricted areas or animals housed on permitted event grounds for horse racing or for pari-mutuel activities submit fingerprints to the Wyoming division of criminal investigation to perform a criminal history background check pursuant to W.S. 7-19-201 in order to obtain state and national criminal history record information. The division may share the results of the criminal history background check with the commission pursuant to W.S. 7-19-106(a)(xxxv). For purposes of this subsection, permittees, licensees, current and prospective employees, volunteers and contract employees of a permittee or licensee, shall include the following as defined:
(i) "Assistant starter" means a person who handles a horse in the starting gate on race day and during training;
(ii) "Assistant trainer" means a person who is designated by the trainer to make decisions on behalf of the trainer during the trainer’s absence;
(iii) "Clerk of scales" means a person whose primary responsibility is to weigh the riders before and after a race to ensure proper weight is carried;
(iv) "Commission or permittee employee" means a person who is an employee that by virtue of their required duties has access to restricted areas of the permitted event grounds or has access to information that is limited by law or confidential in nature and could effectuate or manipulate wagering activity or wagering information;
(v) "Commission safety officer" means a person who is employed by the commission to monitor activities and practices in the stable area, barn area and on the racetrack for compliance with this act and rules of the commission;
(vi) "Commission veterinarian" means a Wyoming licensed veterinarian hired directly by the commission;
(vii) "Exercise rider" means a person who exercises a horse during a training session;
(viii) "Farrier" means a person who provides hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses hooves and placing of shoes on hooves, if necessary;
(ix) "Groom" means a person who cleans stalls, bathes, brushes and provides general care to a race horse;
(x) "Horseman's bookkeeper" means a person whose primary responsibility is to keep and preserve books which will reflect the deposits or other credits and withdrawals or other charges that may be made by an owner or other licensee;
(xi) "Host facility" means a person who leases their property to a permitholder to operate or host pari-mutuel wagering;
(xii) "Identifier" means a person who verifies the identity of each race horse prior to the race;
(xiii) "Jockey" means a person who is a race rider of a horse, including a licensed jockey or an apprentice jockey;
(xiv) "Jockey agent" means a person who handles the daily business of a jockey or apprentice;
(xv) "Mutuel employee" means a person who acts under the direction of the mutuel managers and sells betting tickets;
(xvi) "Mutuel manager" means a person who is an employee of the permittee who manages the mutuel department overseeing all wagering activity;
(xvii) "Owner" means a person who is the owner, part owner or lessee of a horse;
(xviii) "Paddock judge" means a person who is responsible for the paddock area and saddling routine of the race horses;
(xix) "Pari-mutuel service provider" means any business or person providing goods or services to a pari-mutuel permitholder who is required to have access to designated and secured areas of the pari-mutuel event or provides direct services for the support of players or wagering terminals;
(xx) "Patrol judge" means a person who observes the progress of a race from various vantage points around the track;
(xxi) "Permitholder" means a person or entity holding a permit issued by the Wyoming gaming commission to operate a pari-mutuel facility;
(xxii) "Permittee official" means any mutuel manager, steward, events judge, placing judge, patrol judge, paddock judge, clerk of scale, identifier, starter, horsemen bookkeeper, track safety officer, racing secretary and track superintendent who by virtue of their position has unrestricted access to the pari-mutuel event grounds and animals participating;
(xxiii) "Placing judge" means a person who posts the order of finish in a race;
(xxiv) "Pony rider" means a person that rides a horse while leading another race horse, either during a training session or escorting the race horse to the post on race days;
(xxv) "Private practice veterinarian" means a Wyoming licensed veterinarian hired to provide services to owners and trainers;
(xxvi) "Racing secretary" means a person who drafts conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap events;
(xxvii) "Security employee" means a person who is responsible for the protection of property, people, acting in accordance with the permittee's guidelines;
(xxviii) "Service provider employee" means a person who is an employee of the pari-mutuel service providers who provide additional support to the vendor;
(xxix) "Starter" means a person who is responsible for the official dispatching of horses for a race;
(xxx) "Steward or event judge" means a person who is the head event official, or their designee, charged with the duty of making sure the events comply with this act and the rules of the commission;
(xxxi) "Track safety officer" means a person who monitors the paddock and racetrack areas during all training and racing hours for safety related issues;
(xxxii) "Track superintendent" means a person who is responsible for all track maintenance, ensuring that the track surface is properly groomed and prepared for training and racing hours;
(xxxiii) "Trainer" means a person who is engaged in the training of race horses;
(xxxiv) "Valet" means a person who assists in the saddling of horses for the jockeys in a pari-mutuel event;
(xxxv) "Veterinarian assistant" means a person who is hired by a commission veterinarian or a private practice veterinarian to assist in providing veterinarian services under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(g) The commission may delegate authority to enforce rules of the commission and this act to three (3) stewards at each live pari-mutuel event, at least one (1) of whom shall be an employee of and selected by the commission. Stewards shall exercise such reasonable and necessary authority as is designated by rules of the commission including the following:
(i) Enforce rules of the commission and this act;
(ii) Rule on the outcome of events;
(iii) Levy fines not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for violations of rules of the commission. Violations shall be reported daily and fines paid to the commission within forty-eight (48) hours of imposition and notice;
(iv) Suspend licenses not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days for violations of rules of the commission. Suspensions shall be reported to the commission daily;
(v) Recommend the commission impose fines or suspensions greater than permitted by paragraphs (iii) and (iv) of this subsection.
(h) Only a licensed steward of the permitted event may impose fines or license suspensions except that a starter may impose fines when horses arrive at the gate until off time in an amount not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(j) Any fine or license suspension imposed by a steward or fine imposed by a starter may be appealed in writing to the commission within five (5) days after its imposition. The commission may affirm or reverse the decision of a steward or starter or may increase or decrease any fine or suspension. A fine imposed by the commission shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). Suspensions of a license may be for any period of time, but shall be commensurate with the seriousness of the offense.
(k) The commission shall access criminal history record information for all operators and vendors under article 3 of this chapter and all licensees, permittees and employees of the commission under W.S. 9-1-627(d) for the purposes of this act. Every applicant for a permit or license under this act shall provide the commission fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as provided under W.S. 7-19-201.
(m) The commission shall establish the number of actual live horse racing or pari-mutuel event days required to qualify for a simulcasting permit. The commission shall adopt rules governing establishment of live horse racing or pari-mutuel event days required for a simulcasting permit in a manner that ensures fair and equitable involvement of all affected parties, including consideration of the economic viability of those days to permit applicants.
(n) Commencing July 1, 2020, any person conducting an activity as specified by W.S. 6-7-101(a)(iii)(D) or (F) shall first obtain a license from the commission. Under this subsection, the commission shall not charge license applicants any fee and shall not require any fee for any license issued. Any person required to be licensed under this subsection shall file an annual report with the commission as specified by rule.
(o) In addition to all other duties, the commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall:
(i) Enforce W.S. 6-7-101 through 6-7-104;
(ii) Regulate online sports wagering and sports wagering operators and vendors under W.S. 9-24-101 through 9-24-106.